Highways and Streets Signage Policy
We try to keep all signs legible and visible. All signs are
reflective but there is a legal requirement to illuminate some in
areas of street lighting. Illuminated signs and bollards are
checked regularly and are also cleaned and replaced whenever
necessary. All signs, whether temporary or permanent, require the
approval of Cheshire East Council as Highway Authority.
Apart from the usual regulatory and direction signs, there are
also other organisations that provide temporary signs to sporting
and other events. Should Parish Councils or voluntary groups wish
to use these signs, they should contact these organisations
directly:
The operators of tourist attractions can pay for white-on-brown
Tourism Signs to be erected by Cheshire East Council, subject to
them meeting certain criteria. Application forms can be obtained
from the highways licences and permits
pages.
Please help us by reporting signs that are obscured by foliage,
dirty or damaged using our
online mapping system.
Unauthorised Signs
Unofficial signs, pictures, letters or other marks are not
allowed on highways for safety reasons. However, a
Police-recognised 'Home Watch' scheme is able to obtain approved
signs; the group running the scheme may then erect them in places
or on lamp posts approved by the Highways Service.
Although not specifically approved, short term temporary signs
and banners1 for the benefit of the
community are accepted and may be placed by community groups, with
the permission of the Highways Service; they must be removed
immediately after the event.
However, such attachments must not be made to lighting columns
without the consent of the Highways Service, who will be
pleased to advise on any particular matter. Lighting columns are
made from a fairly light gauge steel and the column manufacturers
do not recommend the fixing of any object that may cause stress to
the column. The fixing of any signs needs to be done in such a way
as to prevent theft of the sign or damage to the column.
Similarly, no attachments must be made to any bridges without
written consent. Please contact us and we will be happy
to advise on any particular proposal.
Footnote 1:
Typical examples of activities are: Village and Church fetes,
town festivals, village gymkhanas, Maypole events, Christmas
decorations and greetings. Please note that if banners or bunting
are erected across the highway, then a minimum height clearance is
required which is dependent on the location. The normal height
clearance required is 5.5m (18ft) but this must always be confirmed
with the Highways Service.
